Plastic panel pad construction for spacing concrete panels

ABSTRACT

Panel pads are provided which are useful in spacing concrete panels and the like for purposes of curing, storage, packing and shipping. The pad construction consists of a plurality of pad bases connected together by parallel straps in serial alignment, the bases being provided on one side thereof with a plurality of hemispherical projections peaking in a common plane and arranged in three parallel rows, the projections in the outer rows of which are aligned with each other and are equally spaced. The projections in the innermost of the three rows are staggered with respect to the projections in the outer rows and are divided into two groups of three projections each on each respective pad base. These groups are spaced to leave a gap therebetween. Each base is provided with at least one hole passing therethrough which permits affixing the pads to wooden supports or the like. The bases are scored so that they may be hingeably displaced into separate sections or so that they can be broken apart to form separate sections.

United States Patent 91 Ilukowicz [111 j 3,892,902 July 1,1975

[75] Inventor: Robert John llukowicz, Coram,

[73] Assignee: Preco Industries, Ltd., Plainview,

[22] Filed: Dec. 4, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 312,199

[52] US. Cl. 428/99; 52/98; 52/173; 214/105; 428/131; 428/166; 428/179[51] Int. C13... B32B 7/08; B32B 3/10; B651) 57/00 [58] Field of Search161/130, 122, 121, 48, 161/109; 52/173, 98; 214/105 R [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,073,541 9/1913 Stewart 161/130 X 2,131,72810/1938 Denman 161/121 X 2,179,057 11/1939 Schuetz 161/130 X 2,209,5377/1940 Perry 161/122 X 2,714,570 8/1955 Brown 161/122 X 3,018,015 1/1962Agriss et a1. 161/130X 3,036,728 5/1962 Gibb 161/130 X 3,231,454 l/l966Williams 161/130 X 3,484,835 12/1969 Trounstine et 211.... 161/1303,561,177 2/1971 Agro et a1. ..161/122X 3,612,301 10/1971 Peacock214/105 R 3,616,155 10/1971 Chavannes 161/122 X 3,616,158 10/1971 Rubens161/130 X 3,741,411 6/1973 Peacock 214/105 R FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 583,442 10/1958 ltaly 214/105 R Primary EXar niner-PhilipDier Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roberts & Cohen 1 1 ABSTRACT Panel padsare provided which are useful in spacing concrete panels and the likefor purposes of curing, storage, packing and shipping. The padconstruction consists of a plurality of pad bases connected together byparallel straps in serial alignment, the bases being provided on oneside thereof with a plurality of hemispherical projections peaking in acommon plane and arranged in three parallel rows, the projections in theouter rows of which are aligned with each other and are equally spaced.The projections in the innermost of the three rows are staggered withrespect to the projections in theouter rows and are divided into twogroups of three projections each on each respective pad base. Thesegroups are spaced to leave a gap therebetwee-n. Each base is providedwith at least one hole passing therethrough which permits affixing thepads to wooden supports or the like. The bases are scored so that theymay be hingeably displaced into separate sections or so that they can bebroken apart to form separate sections.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 PLASTIC PANEL PAD CONSTRUCTION FORSPACING CONCRETE PANELS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tospacers and supports and more particularly to spacers and supports foruse in connection with concrete panels or the like.

BACKGROUND In the curing, storing, packing and shipping of concretepanels or the like, it is usually necessary to build up stacks of panelsor to lean the panels against one another in inclined attitudes so thatone panel will bear the weight of one or more other panels.

If the panels are allowed to come into contact with one another, thismight prevent curing or will at least prevent curing in a proper manner.In addition, it is possible that the panels will cause stains on oneanother or will introduce defects into adjacent panels which will beintolerable with respect to both quality of product and economy.

In addition, during the shipping and handling of such panels as havebeen referred to generally above, there may occur breakage, chipping andcracking if the panels are permitted to come into contact with oneanother and this must be avoided if an economical procedure is to beachieved.

In the handling of panels of the above-noted type, it is not uncommon toencounter loads in excess of, for example, twenty tons and even more.Thus, provision must be made to support loads of such magnitudes in aneconomical manner.

Additionally, provision has to be made, in the case of curing, to allowair to circulate in and about the panel faces in order to prevent curingstains. Moreover, in the processing of such panels and the curingthereof, there will frequently be confronted materials which are of anacidic or alkaline nature.

Additionally, panels are generally of parallelepiped form as aconsequence whereof there are adjoining and angularly related faces withrespect to which it may be necessary to provide spacing, bracing orsupport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provideimproved spacers or pads for spacing or supporting panels fabricated ofconcrete or the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved panel padswhich are capable of withstanding, for example, loads in excess oftwenty tons.

lt is yet another object of the invention to provide improved panal padsof the above-noted type which are reuseable.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved panelpad of the above-noted type which provides for the venting of air andallows air to circulate against the faces of the panels supported inorder to prevent curing stains.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide low cost andhighly protective panel pads which are superior to those which have beenheretofore available.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved panel padconstruction which enables the same to be divided simply into one ormore subsections capable of being used independently.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved panelpad construction which enables the elimination of breakage, chipping andcracking during the storage, packing and shipping of panels of theabove-noted type.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of improved padswhich will not themselves stain the panels which are supported, bracedor spaced and which are improvements over panels made, for example, ofwood, foams, metal, asbestos, hay and so forth.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved panelconstruction which is inert with respect to acids and alkalis.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved panelpad of the above-noted type which provides readily for affixing the sameto wooden frames and supports.

To achieve the above and other objects of the invention, there isprovided an improved panel pad construction which comprises a base meanshaving opposite sides and, at least on one of said sides, a plurality ofspaced projections of equal height peaking at points in a commonplanewhereby there results only a point contact with the panel whichwill be supported, spaced or braced thereby.

Preferably, the projections of the pad of the invention arehemispherical in shape in order to provide for an optimum distributionof the forces involved and in order to provide for a point contact withthe panels to be handled while avoiding penetration into the same.

Preferably, the projections provided on the base means of the inventionare aligned in parallel but staggered rows. In particular, said basemeans may include at least one base forming a monolithic structure withthe afore-noted projections. These projections are preferably solid inorder to provide for handling loads of the above-mentioned magnitude.

The base means as noted above includes at least one base. This base ispreferably provided with a hole passing therethrough and there may beadditional holes provided in order to facilitate nailing the same to anassociated wooden support or frame.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the base mentionedhereinabove is provided with a scoring service to divide the base intohingeably connected sections or to enable the base to be broken intoseparate sections which can be separately employed.

According to a further feature of the invention, the base is ofgenerally rectangular shape and is provided with rounded corners.

According to still another feature of the invention, the base means mayinclude a plurality of the aforementioned bases and relatively thinstraps will be provided connecting the bases in serial alignment.

According to still another feature of the invention, the projectionsextend outwardly from the base to an extent which is about three timesthe thickness of the base.

With respect to a specific embodiment of the invention, the base meansand projections are of a monolithic construction formed of a highdensity polymer. Preferably, the polymer will have a specific gravity ofabout 0.92 to 0.95.

According to still another specific embodiment of the invention, theafore-mentioned base will have a substantially constant thickness ofabout 1/ 16th to 3/8ths of an inch.

According to still another specific embodiment of the invention, theprojections are arranged in three parallel rows, the outer two of whichinclude six evenly spaced mutually aligned projections and the inner rowof which includes six projections arranged in two spaced groups of threeprojections, each of which are staggered relative to the projections ofthe outer rows.

The projections as will be seen hereinafter are preferably spaced by atleast one-eighth of an inch and the base means and projections arepreferably of a material which is inert to acids and alkalis.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill be found in the detailed description which follows as illustratedin the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a panel pad construction provided inaccordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention and illustratingtwo pads connected in series and indicating that additional pads may beconnected thereto;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the panel pad construction illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing how a panel pad of the invention may beseparated into separate sections;

FIG. 4 is a side view of three panels in inclined attitudes showing aparticular use of the panel pads of the invention;

of .the invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates still a further use of the invention in i the form ofa T cradle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIGS. 1 and 2 are seen a preferred panel padconstruction provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention. Therein appear panel pads 10 and 12 consisting respectivelyof bases 14 and 16 upon which are provided a plurality of projections18. The bases 14 and 16 have upper and lower sides and, in the preferredembodiment, the projections 18 extends upwardly from the upper side 20of the respective pads, the lower side 22 thereof being devoid ofprojections and therefore being at least substantially planar.

The pads 10 and 12 are connected by parallel straps 24 and 26 which arerelatively short and narrow. For example, where the length L of a pad issix inches and the width W thereof is 2 /2 inches, the straps 24 and 26will be approximately one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch in length andwill be approximately one-eighth of an inch in width.

Additional straps 28 and 30 are indicated since the arrangement ispreferably provided as a group of three or more pads and since,additionally, as many further pads as desired may be added in serialarrangement as may be particularly advantageous for a particular use.

The pad 10 is provided with a scoring indicated generally at 32. In FIG.2 this scoring is seen to be of inverted V shape and is provided so thatsections 10a and 10b of the pad 10 may be considered as hingeablyconnected or as capable of being separated into two separate sectionswhich may be individually employed.

Similarly, pad 12 is provided with a scoring indicated at 34 and of thesame shape, nature and use as has been discussed with respect to pad 10.Thus, it is clear that 4 pad 12 is also separable into separate sections12a and 121) which may be considered as hingeably connected or asseparable into two independent sections which may be separatelyemployed.

Actually, the sections are connected by a bridge 36 or 38 which is of athickness capable of holding the sections 10a and 10b, on the one hand,and sections 12a and 12b, on the other hand, fairly rigidly in coplanarrelationship.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the scores or scorings 32and 34 are preferably rectilinear in nature and divide their respectivepads 10 and 12 into equal sections. Thus, for example, pad 10 can bebroken into two separate sections which are 3 /2 inches long and 2%inches wide according to the example dimensions provided hereinabove.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the tops of the projections preferably peak in acommon plane indicated at P. The purpose of this is so that the pads canengage against a planar face of a panel without one of the projectionsexerting a greater force on the panels than any of the otherprojections.

In addition, while point engagement with a panel is preferred, it isessential that the projections not pierce into the panels such as toform holes, scorings or weak points therein. For this purpose, theprojections 18 are preferably of hemispherical shape or the like, suchdescription being intended to include, by reference, projections whichare ovoid, pyramidal and the like. It is to be noted, however, that thepads of the invention are intended to maintain loads of substantialmagnitude and the hemispherical shape is preferred with respect to largeloads since the loads and the stresses and strains resulting therefromare very evenly and advantageously distributed.

The bases 14 and 16 as indicated hereinabove are preferably rectangularin shape and are provided with rounded comers such as indicated at 40.The thickness T of the base has a preferred relationship to the overallheight of the pad which is indicated at H which advantageously is equalto 4 T.

The bases and projections extending therefrom are preferably of amonolithic construction with the projections being solid along with thebase. The projections are preferably formed of a high density polymerwhich may be, for example, polyethylene. Preferably, the polymer willhave a specific gravity of about.O.92

.to 0.95. At the same time, the bases will each have a substantiallyconstant thickness of about l/16th to 3/8th of an inch.

As has been seen in FIG. 1, the projections on each pad are arranged inthree parallel rows. These are indicated for the pad 10 as rows RI andR2 and R3. Rows R1 and R3 are the outer rows and the projections thereinare equally spaced. The projections of row R1 are aligned with theprojections of row R3.

The projections of inner row R2 are divided into spaced groups G1 and G2of three projections each, the projections of inner row R2 beingstaggered with respect to the projections of rows R1 and R3. Group G1 isthus spaced from group G2.

In addition to the afore-mentioned provisions and features, the pad 10is provided with holes 42 and 44 passing therethrough at diagonallydisposed corners thereof, while pad 12 is provided with similarlypositioned holes 46 and 48. The purpose of these holes is to facilitatethe nailing of the bases to wooden supports, braces and the like.

Finally, it should be noted that the projections are all spaced from oneanother, this being by a minimum of about one-eighth of an inch andpreferably more to provide the passage of air therebetween when concretepanels are resting against the pads or are spaced or braced by the padsin a manner to be indicated in greater detail hereinafter.

From what has been stated hereinabove, it will be noted that a panel padconstruction is provided which comprises generally base means havingopposite sides and, on at least one of said sides, a plurality of spacedprojections of equal height peaking at points preferably arranged in acommon plane. Both the base means and projections are for purposes whichhave been discussed herein of a material inert to acids and alkalis.Preferably, the projections are hemispherical to provide point contactwith the panels while at the same time providing optimum distribution ofthe loads involved.

Reference is next made to FIG. 3 wherein it is seen that, for example, apanel may be split apart into separate sections 50 and 52. This providesa two-for-one advantage so that with a small cut or with a working backand forth of the two sections, it is possible to have two pads forseparate use in place of the single original pad.

in FIG. 4 is illustrated a use of the invention involving a plurality ofconcrete panels 60, 62 and 64. The panel 60 is leaning against a wall orother bracing structure (not shown). The bottoms of the panels areresting on pads 66, 68 and 70 which are of a construction as has beendescribed hereinabove. These pads are resting upon a wooden support beam72.

At the respective top right corner edges of the panels are providedadditional pads 74, 76 and 78. These pads are once again of theconstruction described hereinabove and the hingeable connection ofcertain of the sections permit one of the pads to be bent at rightangles to the remainder of the pads in the attached group so that partof the pads provide for spacing between the panels whereas the uppersections of the pads indicated at 80, 82 and 84 enable additional panelsto be loaded atop the panels 60, 62 and 64.

FIG. 5 illustrates pads 86 and 88 positioned in back to backrelationship,one being positioned on the other in order to space panels90 and 92 which are horizontally disposed and loaded one atop the other.

FIG. 6 illustrates the use of pads 94, 96, 98 and 100 to space panels102, 104 and 106, these being loaded one on top of the other with theface of the panel upwards and in horizontal relationship, the entireload being supported atop the wooden beams 108 and 110. Although notillustrated, it is to be noted that pads might be interposed betweenbeams 108 and I10, on the one hand, and the lowermost panel 102, on theother hand.

Flg. 7 illustrates a concrete beam 112 with pad 114 being bent intoU-shaped form to form a T cradle with the projections on the inner faceof the U-shaped construction in order to engage the beam 1 12 with amultiple point contact.

In all of the above arrangements, the spacing between the projectionsand the point contact of the projections with the concrete whether it befor purposes of forms,

curing, storage, packing and/or shipping enables air to circulate aroundthe panel faces to prevent cure stains, avoids penetration into thepanels, and achieves all of the inventions noted hereinabove. At thesame time the panels are low in cost, reusable, unbreakable and longlasting as well as being non-reactive to acids and alkalis.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modificationsand variations of the construction set forth hereinabove. Thesemodifications and variations will not depart from the scope of theinvention if defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A panel pad construction comprising base means having opposite sidesand, on one of said sides, a plurality of spaced solid and substantiallynon-deformable hemispherical projections of equal height peaking atpoints in a common plane, said base means includes a plurality of bases,each said base forming a monolithic structure with respective of saidprojections, each said base being provided with a scoring servingselectively to divide the same into hingeably connected sections adaptedto be broken into separate sections each of which has projectionsthereon, and relatively thin straps connecting the bases in serialalignment, said monolithic structure being of a high densitypolyethylene having a specific gravity of about O.92O.95.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said projections arealigned in parallel but staggered rows in each said base.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said base is providedwith a hole passing therethrough.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 3 wherein'each said base isrectangularly shaped with rounded corners.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 4 wherein the projections extendabout three times the thickness of the base.

6. A construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein said 'base has asubstantially constant thickness of about 1/16 to 3/8 of an inch.

7. A construction as claimed in claim 6 wherein the projections arearranged in three parallel rows the outer two of which include sixevenly spaced mutually aligned projections and the inner row of whichincludes six projections arranged in two spaced groups of threeprojections each of which are staggered relative to the projections ofthe outer rows.

8. A construction as claimed in claim 7 wherein the projections arespaced by at least one-eighth of an inch.

9. A panel pad construction comprising base means having opposite sidesand, on one of said sides, a plurality of spaced solid and substantiallynon-deformable hemispherical projections of equal height peaking atpoints in a common plane, said base means including a plurality ofbases, each said base forming a monolithic structure with respective ofsaid projections, each said base being provided with a scoring servingselectively to divide the same into hingeably connected sections adaptedto be broken into separate sections each of which has projectionsthereon, said monolithic structure being of a high density polyethylenehaving a specific gravity of about 0.92-0.95.

1. A PANEL PAD CONSTRUCTION COMPRISNG BASE MEANS HAVING OPPOSITE SIDESAND, ON ONE OF SAID SIDES, A PLURALITY OF SPACED SOLID AND SUBSTANTIALLYNON-DEFORMABLE HEMISPHERICAL PROJECTIONS O EQUAL HEIGHT PEAKING ATPOINTS IN A COMMON PLANE, SAID BASE MEANS INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF BASES,EACH SAID BSE FORMING A MONOLITHIC STRUCTURE WITH RESPECTIVE OF SAIDPROJECTIONS, EACH SAID BASE BEING PROVIDED WITH A SCORING SERVINGSELECTIVELY TO DIVIDE THE SAME INTO HINGEABLY CONNECTED SECTIONS ADAPTEDTO BE BROKEN INTO SEPARATE SECTIONS EACH OF WHICH HAS PROJECTIONSTHEREON, AND RELATIVELY THIN STRAPS CONNECTING THE BASES IN SERIALALIGNMENT, SAID MONOLITHIC STRUCTURE BEING OF A HIGH DENSITYPOLYETHYLENE HAVING A SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF ABOUT 0.92-0.95.
 2. Aconstruction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said projections are alignedin parallel but staggered rows in each said base.
 3. A construction asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said base is provided with a hole passingtherethrough.
 4. A construction as claimed in claim 3 wherein each saidbase is rectangularly shaped with rounded corners.
 5. A construction asclaimed in claim 4 wherein the projections extend about three times thethickness of the base.
 6. A construction as claimed in claim 5 whereinsaid base has a substantially constant thickness of about 1/16 to 3/8 ofan inch.
 7. A construction as claimed in claim 6 wherein the projectionsare arranged in three parallel rows the outer two of which include sixevenly spaced mutually aligned projections and the inner row of whichincludes six projections arranged in two spaced groups of threeprojections each of which are staggered relative to the projections ofthe outer rows.
 8. A construction as claimed in claim 7 wherein theprojections are spaced by at least one-eighth of an inch.
 9. A panel padconstruction comprising base means having opposite sides and, on one ofsaid sides, a plurality of spaced solid and substantially non-deformablehemispherical projections of equal height peaking at points in a commonplane, said base means including a plurality of bases, each said baseforming a monolithic structure with respective of said projections, eachsaid base being provided with a scoring serving selectively to dividethe same into hingeably connected sections adapted to be broken intoseparate sections each of which has projections thereon, said monolithicstructure being of a high density polyethylene having a specific gravityof about 0.92-0.95.